Why does the Army need the A-10 Warthog?

[JEDI]

why do they need close air support from another branch of the military?

doesn't the army have apache and cobra attack helicopters for that role?

(A-10 is Airforce)

 

[skyking]

survivability. The warthog's armor and redundant systems can sustain damage that no helicopter can.

 

[foghorn67]

Range.

 

[Ryland]

If I remember correctly its primary role is as a tank killer.

 

[IronWing]

I used to fly the A-10 in Air Quake and let me tell you, you can fly an A-10 straight down a mine shaft and bomb enemy tanks from 30 feet off the ground underground while your tail is scraping the ceiling. Ain't no helicopter that can do that. The heli blades touch the roof and, boom, you're dead.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

why do they need close air support from another branch of the military?

doesn't the army have apache and cobra attack helicopters for that role?

(A-10 is Airforce)

Q:
Why do the Kedi Knights need light sabers? Seriously, can't they use a blaster like everyone else?

A:
The coolness of it. Nothing says F-U like a Warthog putting the hurt on you. It's like going Raccoon style on the enemy.

 

[ControlD]

Because nothing does killing quite like a 30mm depleted uranium shell.

 

[IronWing]

Q:
Why do the Kedi Knights need light sabers? Seriously, can't they use a blaster like everyone else?

I tried but I could not find a pic of a Jedi wearing Keds.

I did, however, learn that Taylor Swift hawks Keds.

 

[Jaepheth]

A-10 isn't a plane. It's a gun that has a plane as part of its delivery system.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

A-10 isn't a plane. It's a gun that has a plane as part of its delivery system.

This is true saw a show on the A-10 the gun was designed first, plane was built around the gun.

 

[PliotronX]

Those guns though...

 

[LTC8K6]

The AF wants to cancel the A-10 and stop using it.

The Army should take the program over.

 

[Sonikku]

If I remember correctly its primary role is as a tank killer.

Which will be great when we're fighting a non nuclear war with a major power that fights with tanks.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The A-10 got a reprieve because the Pentagon finally woke up to the fact that it is the cheapest, most rugged, most easily maintained aircraft for it's role.

 

[pauldun170]

They don't need the A-10. They need aircraft that can perform the mission that the A-10 is commonly used for.
Aircraft that perform that mission include AH-64's, F-16's, F-15's, AV-8b's, B1b, drones and the list goes on.

A-10's have become popular because everyone thinks the gun is cool because big must be better. Soldier's on the ground like it because for for several years it was seen as the best way to issue a "fuck you" to the other people shooting at them. Having the ability to make multiple passes to issue that "fuck you" is a bonus. They are paid for. They are cheap to operate. They are cool looking.

that being said

The A-10 itself is not needed.
The A-10 can only thrive in an environment where we have complete air superiority. The gun's effectiveness as a tank killer is overrated. It's great against older tanks. Not so much against modern tanks. When the A-10 was developed, missile tech was still on the shitty side. We tossed that gun on there because it was the right solution at the time to deal with all the expected T-55's and T-62 coming our way in Europe. In modern times, we have very effective stuff that do the job more effectively.
We have lots of tank killers nowadays.

If we have complete air superiority and you need to provide CAS
1. Hornets F-15E\Harriers\AV-8b's are quicker to the target area
2. Apaches\Cobras can get into the meat and potatoes with you
3. One B1b can park itself up at "what's that dot in the sky up there" and provide complete coverage for hours and then switch off with another B1b. (Sniper pod+fancy boom sticks)

So you can have fast jets get to you "NOW" and have them do it in one pass.
You can wait for the A-10's to arrive to be able to make 2 or 3 passes
You can have a Helicopter hang out for awhile but then you are waiting forever. And occasionally you have to rescue the Helicopter.
You can have a B1b get their "now" and then park itself overhead for a couple of hours. Just have to hope some other asshole 300 miles is making the same request.

 

[IEC]

Because BRRRRRRRRRRRAP with a side of BRRRRRRRAP is the best sound you'll ever hear as a infantryman.

 

[Brainonska511]

The AF wants to cancel the A-10 and stop using it.

The Army should take the program over.

The AF wants to kill it because it was designed for an era lacking in precision guided munitions and was less vulnerable to MANPADS. Precision guided munitions are much better now than they were 40 years ago, when the A-10 was introduced. MANPADS are also much better than they were 40 years ago, making the A-10 more vulnerable compared to something that can deliver munitions from a much higher altitude.

 

[IronWing]

The A-10 got a reprieve because the Pentagon finally woke up to the fact that it is the cheapest, most rugged, most easily maintained aircraft for it's role.

Congress made them keep it. Senators McCain and Flake were not amused with plans to retire the plane.

 

[MarkXIX]

Bottom line, that aircraft is an amazing piece of gear. I've seen it in action while I was in Afghanistan. Bad guys were launching mortars onto our base from a nearby mountainside and A-10s were dispatched and opened up hell on those guys.

The sound of the cannon on the aircraft all by itself is a battlefield deterrent.

 

[Chiropteran]

We tossed that gun on there because it was the right solution at the time to deal with all the expected T-55's and T-62 coming our way in Europe. In modern times, we have very effective stuff that do the job more effectively.
We have lots of tank killers nowadays.

What do mean by "efficiently"? bullets are damn cheap, last time I checked. Missiles, on the other hand, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece.

Wouldn't it be more efficient to kill tanks with bullets fired from an A-10, rather than expensive missiles?

 

[keird]

Because BRRRRRRRRRRRAP with a side of BRRRRRRRAP is the best sound you'll ever hear as a infantryman.

This.

Also,

"Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl."

I was a medic in the infantry. I have witnessed 60mm, 81mm, 105's, 155's and 2000 lbs. bombs impact a 1 km grid square at once. Combined arms are not to be trifled with. Those people that go bump in the night... they step softly for reasons.

 

[smackababy]

What do mean by "efficiently"? bullets are damn cheap, last time I checked. Missiles, on the other hand, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece.



Wouldn't it be more efficient to kill tanks with bullets fired from an A-10, rather than expensive missiles?

Bullets themselves may be cheap, but maintaining an entire aircraft platform isn't. It is more efficient to fire a single missile from a multipurpose aircraft to get the job done.

 

[Harrod]

I can't comment on why it is or isn't needed, but I've always thought it was one of the coolest looking planes I put together as a kid.

I'm under the impression it's like the Toyota Camry of military aircraft compared to some of the other stuff as far as repairing them goes.

 

[dainthomas]

It's cheap as dirt to run and is perfect at dispatching the cave dwelling/stick throwing crowd. No reason to waste expensive missiles on them.

If there comes a time when we're fighting people with actual modern tech, then retire it. But as long as it's cheap and effective there's no reason not to use it.

 

[TechBoyJK]

It's brutal and cost effective.